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Positive relationships keep teens healthy

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Adolescents, as a population, are generally healthy, but the teen years are a period of rapid change. During this time, young people may try things that could be harmful to their health and well-being—such as taking drugs, consuming alcohol, smoking or engaging in risky sexual behaviour. However, only focusing on risky behaviours and indicators of poor health does not give a complete picture of their health and development.

The 2000/2001 National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) focused on the link between the quality of adolescents’ relationships—at home, at school, in the community and with friends—and their health status and behaviour. These relationships are considered positive assets.

The NLSCY results show that teens who feel valued by their parents and who are involved with their school are also healthier and have greater self-worth. As well, they are less likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours. Adolescence is a time of growing independence from parents, but families still play an important role.

Adolescents who have a higher number of positive assets are generally less likely to adopt risky behaviours. They are more likely to report a good health status, higher self-worth and a lower level of anxiety than adolescents who have fewer positive assets.

Young people who have four to five positive assets report higher levels of self-worth and good health than young people who have only two to three. Among the adolescents surveyed, self-worth and health status were both better among young people who had two to three assets than among those who had no assets or only one.